to view the Affordable Housing Plan - Town of North Andover

North Andover’s
rental unit problems
are not just limited to
affordability issues;
they also include an
availability issue. In
addition to there
being little rental
housing construction
since 1979, the
vacancy rate in the
community is only
2.2% (219 units). 4
Since 1990, the
number of vacant
units decreased by
42%. Of the 219
vacant units noted in
the 2000 Census,
only 28% were
considered available
for rent (63 units) as
compared to 39% in 1990 (see Table 9).
Table 9: North Andover Housing Unit Characteristics
2000 % Change
1990 2000 % of Total 1990-2000
Occupancy Status
Total housing units 8,271 9,943 20.2%
Occupied housing units 7,891 9,724 97.8% 23.2%
Vacant housing units 380 219 2.2% -42.4%
Tenure
Occupied housing units 7,891 9,724 97.8% 23.2%
Owner-occupied housing units 5,392 7,053 70.9% 30.8%
Renter-occupied housing units 2,499 2,671 26.9% 6.9%
Vacancy Status
Vacant housing units 380 219 2.2% -42.4%
For rent 148 63 28.8% -57.4%
For sale only 110 28 12.8% -74.5%
Rented or sold, not occupied 25 32 14.6% 28.0%
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 51 47 21.5% -7.8%
For migratory workers 0 0 0.0% 0.0%
Other vacant 46 49 22.4% 6.5%
Source: US Census 1990 & 2000, Summary File 1
The demographic make
up of residents who rent
and buy homes in North
Andover is changing.
There are housing unit owners in North Andover that are equally
burdened by housing costs, 23.5% of mortgage holders paid 30%
or more of their income for monthly owner costs. 5 Certainly since
2000 that number has increased with the tremendous increase in
single-family home sale prices and condo sale prices.
Age is another important factor to evaluate when thinking about renter and owner occupied
housing. Both owners and renters saw a decline in the 15-24 and 25-34 age groups, which coincide
with the overall loss of North Andover residents in these age ranges (see Table 10). The decrease in
the 15-34 owner and renter age groups overall and in those who are renting and owning in the
community may be due to increased housing costs, the fact that students who are completing high
school and college do not want (or can’t afford) to stay in town and are moving to other areas, or it
may be an indication that more young adults are returning to live with their families after school.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of North Andover residents aged 35-64 and
over 75 who are renting which may be indicative of the desire of some people to downsize from a
larger home to a more manageable apartment or condo. Interestingly, there are a significantly higher
number of residents age 75+ who live in an owner occupied living situation than there was a decade
ago in 1990.
4 US Census 2000, Summary File 1
5 Ibid.
North Andover Affordable Housing Plan
Page 17 of 49